Hen Has Lost Her Partner!

[bullett54 0]

I made a big mistake yesterday i opened my cage door where i have a pair, hen is sitting on 4 eggs at the moment has only just started laying them i put in the food and the door of the cage didnt close and i was un aware it was left a bit open came back later to check them noticed he had gone now i dont know what i can do to help her rear these babies when they arrive , and will she be able to manage feeding them on her own ,would someone be able to give me some advise please.

[**Liv** 0]

I am so sorry

Personally I think you need to remove the eggs (they possibly haven't even developed yet) and find her another male - a han cant do it on her own as the male needs to feed her while on the nest etc.

 

Get a second opinion first, but that is what i believe needs to happen.

[melbournebudgies 0]

I assume you don't have another pair that could foster?

[**KAZ** 0]

I have had hens who have raised babies alone. You just have to make sure her food is easy to get to and easy to eat and process to the chicks. She will be fine. Put some millet sprays in her nestbox if she doesnt come out much to eat.

Edited October 4, 2008 by KAZ

[**Liv** 0]

See, just why i said to get a second opinion

 

Good luck with her

[*libby* 0]

I agree with Kaz, give her a chance and keep ample food close by and a close eye on her. She may abandon them at a latter stage at which you may need to step in or foster.

Good luck

[Neville 0]

A hen can rear chicks on her own quite well. If she has a large brood it would pay to foster some if possible

[Budgielover13 0]

I know of a show breeder who had a super cock and with him he actually transfered him from a new hen which he was paired up with and then for a hour every afternoon he would pop him in with an experienced hen and I couldn't believe my eyes :what: when he promptly got down to business :hug: so to speak and then after a hour he would be placed back with the inexperienced hen. The experienced hen had no problems raising the chicks by herself. He did this quite sucessfully and ended breeding more chicks with this, what he called "stud" quality cock bird. Mind you I don't know whether you would end up burning your good cock bird out so to speak :question: .

Edited October 5, 2008 by Budgielover13

[bullett54 0]

Thank you so much everyone for your kind comments our hearts feel a lot lighter now we were so worried about what to do we have been putting her food close by and will take advise as to giving her millet sprays to save her coming out of the box she seems like a very good mum to be she never leaves the nest box since she started laying much at all i am just so sad i let this silly thing happen i will let you all know how things progress .thank you all once again for your kind advise John & Swanacilli.

 

Oh i was wondering also whether any of her eggs from yesterday onward would be fertile or not seeing hes not there to do this any more ? she had three eggs and just after he left that night there was another egg i am just hoping that one is fertile .

Edited October 16, 2008 by Neat

[Sunnie 0]

From my understanding, and I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, all the eggs remain fertile for a week from when they mated. Good luck with your little hen :question:

[melbournebudgies 0]

I lost a cock in a breeding cage last week, the pair didn't have a box on yet but on the off chance she might produce a fertile one I added a nest box the day he died. 2 days later she layed an egg and then two days on another one. I have fostered these eggs to another nest but I too shall be interested to see whether they are fertile.

[Neat 0]

you have been given awesome advise and I agree with all that has been said ...

Candle the eggs 5 -10 days after incubation ....

 

Is she a first mum?

[bullett54 0]

Yes i think she is Neat the breeder told me she was , but she looks to me she will be a good mum cause from the day the first egg has been laid she has been sitting on it ans now has four eggs before this happened i am giving her plenty of food options and easy access to it so we hoping everything goes well for her .

Edited October 12, 2008 by Neat

[**KAZ** 0]

In the meantime, in case things go wrong, get a crop needle and be taught how to use it. Have hand rearing formula at the ready.

[GenericBlue 0]

this is a mistake i did myself last week only i lost my hen her chicks were only two weeks and she had a second box with 2 foster chicks 3 of her own. I was concerned dad would not cope but remembering a time when a cock died quiet suddenly for no known reason months before leaving the hen to hatch and raise 5 chicks alone very successfully, my opinion would be to let her sit she will leave the box if she decides not to raise just keep very healthy and varied diet available and food close /water so she can reach with out leaving for to long her eggs only discard eggs if hen is not eating and loses condition as for dad he raised all five chicks and one more i fostered as last chick was leaving nest he is still in prim but is getting special treatment for being my hero and a holiday , good luck what ever you decide.

Edited October 12, 2008 by Neat
typos spelling

[Neat 0]

Sound like your doing a good job with the everything ... I agree with learning to crop feed..... It saved one of my little ones

 

I asked if she was a first time mum, as Most if not all of my first timers are heavy sitters at first, so may want to keep an eye open for that when they hatch.

[bullett54 0]

Update on my hen with no cock bird the hen has hatched a little one this morning not sure on time but today as i checked last night all 5 eggs were still intact .........but this morning when i checked a little one had hatched but was on the outside of the mother who was sitting on the other eggs the chick was very cold so i took her an put her under the other mother i have with 5 babies to see if i could get it warmed up quickly and it worked but i don't think the mother will feed it.

 

so i need to know i have hand raising mix can we give it some? to get something in its crop in case it starves to death. i hope we did the right thing i have put it back under the original mum to see if she will get the idea to feed it and keep it warm what are my other options please I would appreciate some advise.

Edited October 16, 2008 by Neat

[**KAZ** 0]

Update on my hen with no cock bird the hen has hatched a little one this morning not sur eon time but today as i checked last night all 5 eggs were still intact .........but thi smorning when i checked a little one had hatched but was on the outside of the mother who was sitting on the other eggs the chick was very cold so i took her an put her under the other mother i have with 5 babies to ssee if i could get it warmed up quickly and it worked but i dont think the mother will feed it. so i need to know i have hand raising mix we give it some to get some something in its crop in case it starved to death i hope we did the right thing i hav eput it back under the original mum to see if she will get the idea to feed it and keep it warm what are my other options please would appreaciate some advise.

 

In future...warm the chick yourself before moving it and feed it a feed. You can warm it by cupping it in your hands and breathing warm air onto it for awhile. Moving a cold chick is not a good idea without taking steps to make it warm and strong first. Mothers will not feed or look after an already cold and little moving chick. If you warm and feed it first it will make it strong enough to ask to be fed. If you put the tiniest amount of hand rearing formula near its beak it will suck it in. You will see the creamy bubble in its cop. Be very sure you dont get the mixture in its nostrils.

Once warmed and fed, then move it.

Edited October 16, 2008 by Neat
CHanged ISEA to IDEA

[bullett54 0]

I have some good news about the hen thats lost its partner the hen s feeding the chick we told you about that was nearly dead a second has hatched and she has been feeding it as well so pleased was worried sick about the little ones three more eggs to go , i aslo have a drama with my other clutch that the mother has 5 babies two weeks ago ive been checking them regularly keeping their bed clean and dry but i noticed one of the babies has a blown up crop its huge can anyone help me with what to do with this poor little babe, thank you

[JimmyBanks 0]

good to hear that the mother has started feeding the other one... thats fantastic. Good luck with everything, hope you figure out whats wrong with the crop...

[Trish Ross 0]

My male budgie escaped and left hen with 3 bsbies 6 days old and 3 eggs. She is a first time mum..can she raise them alone thanks